Heat dissipater and method of dissipating heat

ABSTRACT

A heat dissipater and a method of dissipating heat. The present disclosure relates to a heat dissipating device which dissipates heat out of an enclosure. The device comprises a housing positioned within the enclosure, wherein the housing has an intake and an exhaust. The device further comprises an air medium disposed within the enclosure. At least one air handler in communication with the housing transfers the air medium through the housing and out of the enclosure. The present disclosure relates to a method of dissipating heat generated by a component comprising disposing a housing within an enclosure, the enclosure having the component which generates heat. Next, a convection is maintained through the housing and across the component. Cooling is then performed by channeling the air out of the enclosure.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 10/581,047 filed Jun. 18, 2004 to the extent permitted by law.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a heat dissipating device and a method of dissipating heat away from a heat emitting component. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a heat dissipater which dissipates heat from an appliance positioned within a vehicle.

In the recreational vehicle and the boating industry, manufacturers or retailers install appliances such as refrigerators into the vehicle or a boat to provide the user more comfort in using the vehicle/boat. In locating a refrigerator within an enclosure of the vehicle, however, access to the back of the refrigerator must be considered since the back of the refrigerator houses components such as compressors and heat fins. As such, the position of the refrigerator must present accessibility from the outside through the side wall of the vehicle for maintenance purposes. Additionally, the location of the refrigerator must be considered for heat transfer purposes since components such as the compressor and heat fins emit heat during use. This emitted heat must be dissipated out of the vehicle enclosure in order for the appliance unit to work properly.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a heat dissipater and a method of dissipating heat away from a heat generating device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a heat dissipater which removes heat from an appliance positioned within a vehicle. In an embodiment, the heat dissipating device comprises a housing positioned within the enclosure. The housing has an intake, an exhaust and a body positioned between the intake and the exhaust, wherein the body is positioned to surround at least one component which is positioned within the enclosure and which is adapted to emit heat within the enclosure. The intake is adapted to direct an amount of air medium, which is positioned within the enclosure, into the body. The body is adapted to direct the amount of air medium from the intake and over the at least one component which emits heat within the body, wherein the emitted heat from the at least one component causes a temperature differential within the body such that the amount of air medium flows through the body. The exhaust is adapted to direct the amount of air medium, which is flowing through the body as a result of the temperature differential, to a position beyond the enclosure.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a method of dissipating heat emitted by a component. The method comprises removably positioning a housing within the vehicle enclosure such that the housing surrounds the at least one component. Next, a temperature differential is created within the body by emitting heat from the at least one component in order to heat an amount of air medium which is positioned within the housing wherein the heated air medium flows through the housing as a result of the temperature differential. Then, the vehicle enclosure is cooled by directing the amount of air medium out of the vehicle enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in a perspective view a heat emitting appliance such as a refrigerator positioned within a vehicle enclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates in a perspective view a heat dissipating device which covers portions of the heat emitting appliance of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates in a perspective view at least one air handler coupled to the heat dissipating device;

FIG. 4 illustrates in a perspective view at least one channel coupled to the heat dissipating device;

FIG. 5 illustrates in a perspective view another embodiment of the at least one channel coupled to the heat dissipating device;

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate in perspective views other embodiments of the at least one channel coupled to an exhaust of the heat dissipating device and coupled to the enclosure;

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate in perspective views other embodiments of the at least one channel coupled to an intake of the heat dissipating device and coupled to the enclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates in a side elevational view the heat dissipating device and heat emitting appliance positioned within the vehicle enclosure.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates in a perspective view a heat emitting appliance 10 such as a refrigerator positioned within an enclosure 12 such as a vehicle enclosure, wherein the enclosure 12 contains an amount of air medium 14. The appliance 10 may include at least one component 16 such as a cooling unit 18, an evaporator 20, coils 22, and heat fins 24 which may emit heat during use. Typically, the appliance 10 is positioned within the enclosure 12 defined by a roof 26, a floor 28 and side walls 30 wherein the roof 26 may include a vent 32. Since the appliance 10 is positioned within the enclosure 12 and away from the vent 32, the heat 34 emitted by the components 16 cannot easily escape away from the appliance 10. As such, the enclosure 12 experiences an increase in temperature leading to failure of the heat emitting appliance 10 among other undesirable consequences.

Turning to FIG. 2, a heat dissipating device 36 is shown removably connected to the appliance 10. In an embodiment, the heat dissipating device 36 may include a housing 38 having a body 40 which includes a front 42, sides 44, a top 46 and a bottom 48. The sides 44 and bottom 48 form an intake 50 while the sides 44 and top 46 form an exhaust 52. As such, the body 40 is positioned between the intake 50 and the exhaust 52. The top 46 may taper outward from the sides 44 to form the exhaust 52 wider than the intake 50. In an embodiment, the intake 50 and exhaust 52 may remain free from contacting the floor 28 and the roof 26 respectively. In this embodiment, the intake 50 may be positioned above the floor 28 such that the intake 50 is exposed to the enclosure 12 to direct movement of the air medium 14 as will be discussed. Additionally, the exhaust 52 may be exposed to the enclosure 12 to direct the air medium 14 toward the vent 32 as will be discussed. As illustrated, the body 40 partially surrounds the at least one component 16 (FIG. 1) of the appliance 10.

The heat dissipating device 36 may also comprise a divider 54 such as a panel, wherein the divider 54 is positioned between the housing 38 and the side wall 30 of the enclosure 12. As such, the divider 54 extends outward from the front 42 of the housing 38 to the side walls 30 of the enclosure 12. The divider 54 may extend perpendicularly from the housing 38 to the side walls 30. The divider 54 may also extend at an angle from the housing 38 to the side walls 30. In an embodiment, the divider 54 may be positioned between the intake 50 and the exhaust 52 to separate the enclosure 12 (FIG. 8) as will be discussed.

The heat dissipating device 36 further comprises at least one air handler 56, wherein the at least one air handler 56 may be positioned adjacent to the intake 50 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, however, the at least one air handler 56 may be positioned on the sides 44 of the body 40. In an embodiment, the at least one air handler 56 may comprise a fan. The at least one handler 56 is adapted to force the amount of air medium 14 through the intake 50, the body 40 and out of the exhaust 52.

Turning to FIG. 3, the at least one air handler 56 may be coupled to the housing 38, wherein the at least one air handler 56 draws the amount of air medium 14 through the body 40 and out of the exhaust 52 in this embodiment. In an embodiment, the at least one air handler 56 may be positioned between the intake 50 and the exhaust 52. In an embodiment, the at least one air handler 56 may be horizontally coupled near the top 46 and in alignment with the exhaust 52. In an embodiment, the at least one air handler 56 may be vertically coupled near the top 46 on either the front 42 or walls 44 (not shown).

Turning to FIG. 4, the heat dissipating device 36 may further comprise at least one channel 57 coupled to the exhaust 52 such that the at least one channel 57 is in communication with the body 40 of the heat dissipating device 36. In this embodiment, a cover 58 may be positioned over the exhaust 52 in order to direct the air medium 14 from the body 40, through the exhaust 52 and into the at least one channel 57. The at least one channel 57 may extend beyond the enclosure 12, wherein the at least one channel may extend into the vent 32. In an embodiment, the at least one channel 57 may include an opening 60. The opening 60 is adapted to direct the air medium 14, which may be at ambient temperature, into the channel 57 to assist in cooling the channel 57 and the housing 38.

Turning to FIG. 5, the heat dissipating device 36 may further comprise the at least one channel 57 coupled to the at least one air handler 56. In this embodiment, the cover 58 may be positioned over the exhaust 52 in order to direct the air medium 14 from the body 40, through the at least one air handler 56 and into the at least one channel 57. The at least one channel 57 may extend beyond the enclosure 12, wherein the at least one channel may extend into the vent 32. In an embodiment, the at least one air handler 56 may be positioned within the at least one channel 57.

Turning to FIGS. 6A-6C, the heat dissipating device 36 of the present disclosure may comprise coupling the exhaust 52 to the enclosure 12 by the at least one channel 57 such that the exhaust 52 is in communication with an environment beyond the enclosure 12. In an embodiment, the exhaust 52 may be coupled to the top 46 of the enclosure as shown in FIG. 6A. In an embodiment, the exhaust 52 may be coupled to the side walls 30 of the enclosure 12 as shown in FIG. 6B. In an embodiment, the exhaust 52 may be coupled to the floor 28 of the enclosure 12 as shown in FIG. 6C.

Turning to FIGS. 7A-7C, the heat dissipating device 36 of the present disclosure may comprise coupling the intake 50 to the enclosure 12 by the at least one channel 57 such that the intake 50 is in communication with an environment beyond the enclosure 12. In an embodiment, the intake 50 may be coupled to the top 46 of the enclosure as shown in FIG. 7A. In an embodiment, the intake 50 may be coupled to the side walls 30 of the enclosure 12 as shown in FIG. 7B. In an embodiment, the intake 50 may be coupled to the floor 28 of the enclosure 12 as shown in FIG. 7C.

Turning to FIG. 8 and referring to FIGS. 1-7, during use, the heat emitting appliance 10 is positioned within the vehicle 62. When positioned, the front, such as a door, of the heat emitting appliance 10 faces the vehicle interior 64 while the at least one component 16 faces the vehicle enclosure 12. The heat dissipating device 36 is removably positioned within the vehicle enclosure 12 such that the housing 38 is attached to the heat emitting appliance 10 to surround the at least one component 16. The heat dissipating device 36 may be removably attached to the appliance 10 to provide convenient access to the components 16.

When activated, the components 16 (FIG. 1) of the appliance 10 emit heat. The emitted heat creates a temperature differential within the body 40 to heat the amount of air medium 14 positioned within the housing 38, wherein the heated air 14 flows through the housing 38 as a result of the temperature differential. The heat dissipating device 36 is adapted to channel the heat upward and away from the appliance 10 via convection since heat will travel from a hotter medium to a cooler medium. As the heated air 14 expands and rises upward through the housing 38, convection of the heated air 14 draws in cooler fresh air 14 from the intake 50 while emitting the heated air 14 out of the exhaust 52. Since the intake 50 is positioned above the floor 28, the air 14 within the enclosure 12 easily transfers into the housing 38. As such, the heat dissipating device directs the air 14 within the enclosure 12 across the components 16. The heat dissipating device 36 then channels the heated air 14 away from the components 16 toward the vent 32 while drawing in cool air across the components 16, thereby cooling the vehicle enclosure 12 by directing the heated air 14 out of the vehicle enclosure 12. The divider 54 of the heat dissipating device 36 prevents the heated air 14 which has exited the exhaust 52 of the housing 38 from re-entering the intake 50 of the housing 38.

In an embodiment, the at least one air handler 56, which may be positioned adjacent to the intake 50, may activate in order to provide forced flow to assist in dissipating heat away from the components 16 while drawing in cooler air 14 through the intake 50. The at least one air handler 56, which may be coupled to the housing 38, may activate to draw the heated air 14 through the housing 38. The at least one air handler 56 may be coupled to the housing 38 near the exhaust 52 to draw the air 14 across the components 16. As such, the at least one air handler 56 transfers the air 14 through the housing 38 and across the components 16 to transfer the heat emitted by the components 16 toward the vent 32. Additionally, during use, the divider 54 separates the enclosure 12 to prohibit heated air 14 emitted from the exhaust 52 to be re-circulated into the intake 50 via either convection or forced flow from the at least one air handler 56.

In other embodiments, the at least one channel 57 may connect to the exhaust 52 to connect the exhaust 52 to the enclosure 12 such that the exhaust 52 communicates with an environment beyond the enclosure 12. The at least one channel 57 may connect to the intake 50 to connect the intake 50 to the enclosure 12 such that the intake 50 communicates with an environment beyond the enclosure 12. In an embodiment, the at least one air handler 56 may be positioned within the at least one channel 57 to assist in the forced flow to dissipate the heated air 14 out of the dissipater 32. In another embodiment, the at least one air handler 56 may also be positioned within the vent 32 and in communication with the at least one channel 57 in order to dissipate the heated air 14 out of the enclosure 12.

While the present disclosure describes refrigerators, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the appliance described in the disclosure. Additionally, while the concepts of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected by the following claims. 

1. A heat dissipating device which dissipates a heated air medium out of an enclosure, comprising: a housing positioned within the enclosure, the housing having an intake, an exhaust and a body positioned between the intake and the exhaust, the body being positioned to surround at least one component which is positioned within the enclosure and which is adapted to emit heat within the enclosure, wherein the intake is adapted to direct an amount of air medium, which is positioned within the enclosure, into the body, the body is adapted to direct the amount of air medium from the intake and over the at least one component which emits heat within the body, wherein the emitted heat from the at least one component causes a temperature differential within the body such that the amount of air medium flows through the body, and the exhaust is adapted to direct the amount of air medium which is flowing through the body as a result of the temperature differential to a position beyond the enclosure.
 2. The heat dissipating device of claim 1, further comprising a divider which extends outwardly from the housing to a wall of the enclosure wherein the divider is adapted to prevent the amount of air medium which is exiting from the exhaust from entering the intake.
 3. The heat dissipating device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one air handler coupled to the housing wherein the at least one air handler draws the amount of air medium through the body and out of the exhaust.
 4. The heat dissipating device according to 3, wherein the at least one air handler is positioned between the intake and the exhaust.
 5. The heat dissipating device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one air handler positioned adjacent the intake wherein the at least one air handler forces the amount of air medium through the body and out of the exhaust.
 6. The heat dissipating device according to 1, further comprising at least one channel coupled to the exhaust.
 7. The heat dissipating device according to 6, wherein the at least one channel extends beyond the enclosure.
 8. The heat dissipating device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust is coupled to the enclosure.
 9. The heat dissipating device according to claim 1, wherein the intake is coupled to the enclosure.
 10. A heat dissipating device which dissipates a heated air medium out of a vehicle enclosure, comprising: a housing removably positioned within the vehicle enclosure, the housing having an intake, an exhaust and a body positioned between the intake and the exhaust, the body being positioned to surround at least one component which is positioned within the vehicle enclosure and which is adapted to emit heat within the vehicle enclosure, wherein the intake is adapted to direct an amount of air medium, which is positioned in the vehicle enclosure, into the body, the body is adapted to direct the amount of air medium from the intake over the at least one component which emits heat within the body, wherein the emitted heat from the at least one component causes a temperature differential within the body such that the amount of air medium flows through the body, the exhaust is adapted to direct the amount of air medium which is flowing through the body as a result of the temperature differential to beyond the vehicle enclosure; a divider which extends outwardly from the housing to a wall of the vehicle enclosure wherein the divider is adapted to prevent the amount of air medium, which is exiting from the exhaust, from entering the intake; and at least one air handler coupled to the housing wherein the at least one air handler forces the amount of air medium through the body and out of the exhaust.
 11. The heat dissipating device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one air handler is coupled to the body at a position adjacent the intake wherein the at least one air handler forces the amount of air medium through the body and out of the exhaust.
 12. The heat dissipating device according to 10, further comprising at least one channel coupled to the exhaust.
 13. The heat dissipating device according to 12, wherein the at least one channel extends beyond the vehicle enclosure.
 14. The heat dissipating device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one air handler is positioned within the at least one channel.
 15. The heat dissipating device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust is coupled to the vehicle enclosure.
 16. The heat dissipating device according to claim 1, wherein the intake is coupled to the vehicle enclosure.
 17. A method of dissipating heat emitted by at least one component which is positioned within a vehicle enclosure, comprising: removably positioning a housing within the vehicle enclosure such that the housing surrounds the at least one component; creating a temperature differential within the body by emitting heat from the at least one component in order to heat an amount of air medium which is positioned within the housing wherein the heated air medium flows through the housing as a result of the temperature differential; and cooling the vehicle enclosure by directing the amount of air medium out of the vehicle enclosure.
 18. The method of dissipating heat according to claim 17, further comprising drawing the amount of heated air medium through the housing.
 19. The method of dissipating heat according to claim 17, further comprising forcing the amount of heated air medium through the housing.
 20. The method of dissipating heat according to claim 17, further comprising preventing the amount of heated air medium which has exited the housing from re-entering the housing. 